Museum Staff
Jennifer Andrade
Museum Assistant Director Email Jennifer Andrade
Jennifer was born and raised in East Whittier and resides near the Museum with her 3 handsome boys and husband of 12 years. Jennifer says the most rewarding time of her life was being a stay-at-home mom to raise her sons through their early years. Jennifer rejoined the workforce and became the Visitor Services Coordinator at the Museum in 2012. “This job works out perfectly for me and my family” says Jennifer. Working just minutes away from my home, Jennifer is able to be a dedicated baseball mom for her all-star players Rudy and Nathan! In her free time Jennifer enjoys attending church, sporting events (go Angels!), camping, fishing, and the beach.
Lisa Reckon
Curator of Exhibits & Education
Email Lisa Reckon
Lisa is a 4th generation Californian of mostly Irish descent, mixed with various and sundry other nationalities. She has a varied and eclectic background that somehow gives her a unique qualification for her job as Curator. Lisa's degree in Theater from Cal Poly (she's been in about 100 stage plays including 3 European tours with a Rep Company and time in 2 improv companies; a couple of radio shows and 3 movie shorts) gives her an understanding of lighting, fabrication and public presentation. She has a natural talent in artistry and, aside from drawing and painting, can work in just about any medium you'd care to think up. Coming from a family of 3 girls with a 3rd generation carpenter as a dad, Lisa spent a lot of time in the workshop and picked up another talent: skill with power tools. All this, with the addition of her pick-up truck, makes her a fairly competent exhibit designer. She really likes to travel and has seen 38 of the states and about 10 foreign countries. She has a great hubby, a talented daughter and several champion ponies taking up space in her back yard, happily eating their way through her paycheck.
Kristine Smith
Education & Outreach Coordinator
Email Kristine Smith
As a child, Kristine read the book From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and has been obsessed with museums ever since. She loves the energy and wonder of our young visitors. She believes that early childhood is the perfect time to lay a foundation of curiosity and stewardship of our natural world. It is her personal mission in life to turn a person’s “Ew!” into an “Oooh!” when they see a “creepy-crawly.” The best thing that’s ever happened to her in a museum is either getting married in one or having a parasitic fly named after her. In her free time, she loves camping with her family and spending time with friends.
Anthony grew up in La Habra and frequented the Children’s Museum as a child. He studied Theatre arts and Sociology at Fullerton College and was also Vice President of the CSUF Math Club. Anthony also was a founding member of Boxcar Theatricals and Vice President of their company. In his free time Anthony enjoys performing on stage around Orange County/Los Angeles County, going to the thrift store, and caring for a variety of exotic and non-exotic animals.
Anthony Frias
Visitor Services
Hannah is our birthday coordinator and works in visitor services here at the museum. She is a senior at Cal State Fullerton, majoring in sociology. In her free time, she loves to watch new movies with her friends and explore different coffee shops. Hannah loves her job at the Children's Museum! She enjoys booking birthdays for our guests and helping families with our many options of birthday add-ons and activities. Her favorite part of the museum is all the many members that come in weekly-monthly and helping in the annual events we host year round!
April grew up in South San Gabriel with her parents and 3 brothers. She began reading in Kindergarten and never stopped. She loved school and was involved in as many activities as possible. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara, she enjoyed working in politics and eventually fell in love working with the youth and is very happy to be here at the Museum. She has lived in La Habra for 24 years and has one amazing daughter, favorite son-in-law & one beautiful granddaughter.
April Guerra
Visitor Services
Samantha Cymbolin
Visitor Services Assistant
For the past 5 years Samantha and her husband have lived in an RV traveling the country to various destinations, but their familial roots have always been tied to Southern California. Samantha was born in Fullerton, raised in Riverside, but spent most of her childhood growing up in La Habra where her family is from. Samantha has always had a passion for helping and serving others, which is why she has spent most of her professional career in customer service in varying industries. She spent many years managing a group home for children with developmental disabilities. The years she spent working with children have prepared her for her role as a Visitor Services Assistant at the Children’s Museum. In her free time Samantha loves spending time with her family, baking, traveling, gardening, and exploring National Parks. Samantha and her husband currently reside in the City of Whittier, but she is excited to serve the La Habra community through hands-on learning experiences.